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Cradle of humanity is still revealing new insights about our origins Tue, 11 Nov 2025 18:00:24 +0000 The Omo-Turkana basin in Africa is home to a treasure trove of ancient human fossils and tools that span 300,000 years – today it is still yielding new discoveries about our species

At-home hypnosis relieves menopausal hot flushes Tue, 11 Nov 2025 17:25:39 +0000 Hot flushes could be relieved by listening to recordings that induce hypnosis from home, rather than having to venture to a clinic

Women have supercharged immune systems and we now know why Tue, 11 Nov 2025 16:00:38 +0000 Being born with two X chromosomes brings a host of health benefits, and recognising this could lead to personalised medical treatments for men and wome

Static electricity can remove frost from windows using little energy Tue, 11 Nov 2025 15:23:54 +0000 High-voltage copper plates can remove up to three-quarters of frost from a surface, while using much less energy than conventional heating

Odds of asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting the moon may rise to 30 per cent Tue, 11 Nov 2025 14:00:32 +0000 In February, the James Webb Space Telescope will briefly be able to observe asteroid 2024 YR4, which currently has a 4 per cent chance of hitting the moon in 2032. Depending on what it sees, the odds of collision could drastically increase

Falling asleep isn’t a gradual process – it happens all of a sudden Mon, 10 Nov 2025 15:00:48 +0000 Brain activity from more than 1000 people shows a rapid transition from being awake to being asleep, rather than a slow transition between the two states

The biggest controversy in maths could be settled by a computer Tue, 11 Nov 2025 12:00:12 +0000 For over a decade, mathematicians have failed to agree whether a 500-page proof is actually correct. Now, translating the proof into a computer-readable form may finally settle the matter

Caves carved by water on Mars may hold signs of past life Tue, 11 Nov 2025 08:00:45 +0000 Eight possible cave openings found on the Martian surface look to have once had ancient streams flowing into them, suggesting they are promising places to look for evidence of life

Why giving up on goals is good for you, and how to know which to ditch Mon, 10 Nov 2025 16:00:25 +0000 We admire grit and perseverance, but surprising research suggests that giving up on ambitions in the right way can actually improve our physical and mental health

Ultrasound may boost survival after a stroke by clearing brain debris Mon, 10 Nov 2025 16:00:16 +0000 The damage of strokes caused by brain bleeds can be mitigated by removing dead blood cells. Scientists have now found a way of doing this non-invasively, with promising results in mice

AI may blunt our thinking skills – here’s what you can do about it Mon, 10 Nov 2025 14:30:13 +0000 There is growing evidence that our reliance on generative AI tools is reducing our ability to think clearly and critically, but it doesn’t have to be that way

Could electric race cars soon be faster than Formula 1? Mon, 10 Nov 2025 12:00:07 +0000 The electric cars of the Formula E racing championship can accelerate faster than Formula 1 cars and their top speeds are catching up – but battery capacity would let them down in a head-to-head

When rift lakes dry up it can cause earthquakes and eruptions Mon, 10 Nov 2025 10:00:41 +0000 Lake Turkana in Kenya, known as the cradle of humanity, has shrunk in recent millennia – and the loss of water has led to increased seismic activity, which could have impacted our ancient ancestors

AI power use forecast finds the industry far off track to net zero Mon, 10 Nov 2025 10:00:32 +0000 Several large tech firms that are active in AI have set goals to hit net zero by 2030, but a new forecast of the energy and water required to run large data centres shows they’re unlikely to meet those targets

Mysterious holes in Andean mountain may be an Inca spreadsheet Mon, 10 Nov 2025 00:01:52 +0000 Thousands of holes arranged in a snake-like pattern on Monte Sierpe in Peru could have been a monumental accounting device for trade and tax

Here's how to spot the Leonid meteor shower this month Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:00:00 +0000 A new moon on 20 November means there is a great opportunity to enjoy the Leonid meteor shower this year, says Abigail Beall. Just make sure to get warm and comfy first

What we’re learning about consciousness from master meditators’ brains Wed, 05 Nov 2025 16:00:12 +0000 Neuroscientist Matthew Sacchet is revealing how mastering meditation can not only enable transcendental states of bliss, but also reshape how we experience pain and emotion

Our bodies are ageing faster than ever. Can we hit the brakes? Mon, 03 Nov 2025 12:00:59 +0000 All over the world people are ageing more rapidly and succumbing to diseases that typically affected the elderly. But there are ways to turn back the clock on your biological age

James Watson, co-discoverer of DNA’s double helix, has died aged 97 Fri, 07 Nov 2025 21:13:45 +0000 As one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century, James Watson pioneered the field of genetics and left behind a complicated legacy

How preppers plan to save us if the whole internet collapses Tue, 04 Nov 2025 16:00:14 +0000 Recent outages have revealed how vulnerable the internet is, but there seems to be no official plan in the event of a catastrophic failure. Meet the team of hackers who are ready to jump into action

Enceladus’s ocean may be even better for life than we realised Fri, 07 Nov 2025 19:00:48 +0000 The buried ocean on Saturn’s moon Enceladus seems to be stable across extremely long periods of time, making it an even more promising place to hunt for life

Having children plays a complicated role in the rate we age Fri, 07 Nov 2025 19:00:24 +0000 The effort of reproducing may divert energy away from repairing DNA or fighting illness, which could drive ageing, but a new study suggests that is only the case when environmental conditions are tough

A distant galaxy is being strangled by the cosmic web Fri, 07 Nov 2025 16:00:45 +0000 A dwarf galaxy 100 million light years away is being stripped of its crucial star-forming gas, and it seems that the cosmic web is siphoning off this gas as the galaxy passes through

We may never figure out where interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS came from Fri, 07 Nov 2025 15:00:27 +0000 The surface of comet 3I/ATLAS may have been so radically altered by cosmic rays that deducing its home star system would be impossible

New Scientist recommends the cult film Hackers – 30 years late Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:00:00 +0000 The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week

The Trump administration is playing peekaboo with reality Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:00:00 +0000 By cutting surveys of public health, the US government won't be able to properly tackle problems ranging from drug addiction to food insecurity

Digital map lets you explore the Roman Empire's vast road network Thu, 06 Nov 2025 16:00:09 +0000 Archaeologists have compiled the most detailed map yet of roads throughout the Roman Empire in AD 150, totalling almost 300,000 kilometres in length

A three-legged lion has learned to hunt in a completely unexpected way Thu, 06 Nov 2025 18:00:15 +0000 Jacob, an 11-year-old lion, has defied expectations by surviving for years after losing a leg – now we know his success is down to an innovative hunting strategy

New book tells compelling tale of the fight to save the Siberian tiger Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:00:00 +0000 The battle to save the magnificent but endangered Amur tiger detailed in Jonathan Slaght's Tigers Between Empires is an inspiring look at what collaboration across borders can achieve, finds Adam Weymouth

Ancient DNA may rewrite the story of Iceland's earliest settlers Wed, 05 Nov 2025 12:00:34 +0000 Biochemical evidence suggests Norse people settled in Iceland almost 70 years before the accepted arrival date of the 870s, and didn't chop down the island's forests

Is a robot programmed to prank you annoying? Yes Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:00:00 +0000 Feedback discovers a robot that can mimic Turkish ice cream vendors, who are known for playing tricks on their customers. Researchers concluded that customers, perhaps predictably, don't trust it

This book is a great insight into the new science of microchimerism Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:00:00 +0000 Lise Barnéoud's Hidden Guests shows how this fascinating new field brings with it profound implications for medicine, and even what it means to be human, finds Helen Thomson

Human minds abhor uncertainty. This is a problem for liberal democracy Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:00:00 +0000 Neurologically, the flexibility of the future promised by liberal democracy can be a challenge because it brings with it uncertainty. But there are solutions, say Florence Gaub and Liya Yu

Grafting trick could let us gene-edit a huge variety of plants Thu, 06 Nov 2025 09:00:22 +0000 Many plants including cocoa, coffee and avocado cannot be gene-edited but a technique involving grafting could change that, opening the door to more productive and nutritious varieties

Skeleton with brutal injuries identified as duke assassinated in 1272 Thu, 06 Nov 2025 08:00:36 +0000 The identity of a skeleton buried under a Budapest convent has been confirmed as Béla of Macsó, a Hungarian royal murdered in a 13th-century power struggle, and archaeologists have pieced together how the attack unfolded

Deep-space sci-fi novel is delightful, profound and not to be missed Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:00:00 +0000 A planet is about to be destroyed by the collapse of a binary star system in Slow Gods, Claire North’s first venture into classic science fiction. Read it! says Emily H. Wilson

Is the expansion of the universe slowing down? Thu, 06 Nov 2025 02:38:21 +0000 It is widely accepted that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate, but now researchers say our measurements of the mysterious force driving that may be wrong and that the universe began to slow 1.5 billion years ago – yet other scientists disagree

New quantum computer is on the path to unravelling superconductivity Wed, 05 Nov 2025 20:00:19 +0000 Using the Helios-1 quantum computer, researchers have used a record-breaking number of error-proof qubits to run the first and biggest quantum simulation of a model for perfect conductivity

Lumpy ‘caterpillar wormholes’ may connect entangled black holes Wed, 05 Nov 2025 17:00:18 +0000 A mathematical model suggests that when a pair of black holes gets quantum entangled, this can give rise to a lumpy space-time tunnel between them

Toxic algae blighting South Australia could pose a global threat Wed, 05 Nov 2025 14:00:05 +0000 Researchers warn that the alga Karenia cristata, which has killed around a million animals in Australian waters in one of the biggest algal blooms ever seen, could harm marine life elsewhere

Cavities could be prevented by a gel that restores tooth enamel Tue, 04 Nov 2025 10:00:10 +0000 Enamel does not naturally regenerate, which can lead to painful cavities, but a gel that harnesses some of the properties of saliva could restore the hard, shiny layer to teeth

COP30: What’s on the agenda at the Belém climate summit Wed, 05 Nov 2025 08:00:22 +0000 Initiatives on the table at COP30 aim to evaluate which countries are most vulnerable, support efforts to clean up industries and pay for the protection of tropical forests

Covid raises risk of heart issues in children more than vaccination Tue, 04 Nov 2025 23:30:20 +0000 Getting covid-19 for the first time slightly increased the risk of heart inflammation, blood clots and bleeding disorders among children, whereas being vaccinated against the virus was much safer and sometimes protective

The fascinating story of the ultimate cosmic law Tue, 04 Nov 2025 18:00:39 +0000 How do we know the speed of light – and why does it have a speed limit at all? Leah Crane explores the history of one of the most important numbers in the universe

We're closing in on how genetics may influence your PCOS risk Tue, 04 Nov 2025 17:00:44 +0000 In the largest genetic analysis of polycystic ovary syndrome to date, scientists have identified new variants linked to the condition, which could help us treat it more effectively

COP30: Can Brazil summit get climate negotiations back on track? Tue, 04 Nov 2025 14:00:40 +0000 Expectations are low for the UN climate conference in Belém, Brazil, but the host’s pragmatic approach could help make progress on implementation

Advanced quantum network could be a prototype for the quantum internet Tue, 04 Nov 2025 10:37:24 +0000 Building a working quantum internet would require overcoming a host of technical challenges, but researchers who have built one of the most advanced quantum networks to date say they think it is possible

Brightest black hole flare ever caused by huge star being ripped apart Tue, 04 Nov 2025 10:00:13 +0000 A distant black hole has been caught releasing the brightest flare ever, which is the result of it ripping apart and devouring an enormous star

Walking 3000 steps a day seems to slow Alzheimer's-related decline Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:07:22 +0000 Alzheimer's-related cognitive decline could be slowed by taking as few as 3000 steps a day, possibly due to the effects of regular exercise on brain health

Antarctic glacier's alarming retreat is the fastest ever seen Mon, 03 Nov 2025 16:00:09 +0000 Hektoria glacier on the Antarctic Peninsula retreated 25 kilometres in just 15 months. Its rapid melt could have implications for other glaciers and the rate of sea level rise

Does the family tree of ancient humans need a drastic rewrite? Mon, 03 Nov 2025 16:00:00 +0000 Anthropologist Christopher Bae has recently suggested we add two new species of ancient human to our family tree. The plans break the conventions for how species should be named – but Bae argues the rules themselves are flawed

SpaceX's Starlink and other satellites face growing threat from sun Mon, 03 Nov 2025 13:00:35 +0000 There are now over 10,000 satellites in orbit, more than at any point in history, and this growing number is starting to reveal how solar storms could disrupt internet mega constellations like SpaceX's Starlink

We may have found a surprisingly nearby cluster of primordial stars Mon, 03 Nov 2025 10:00:16 +0000 The very first generation of stars, called Population III stars, are mostly expected to be too distant to see directly – but astronomers may have found some for the very first time

Orcas are ganging up on great white sharks to eat their livers Mon, 03 Nov 2025 05:00:20 +0000 For the first time, video footage has captured orcas in the Gulf of California hunting young great white sharks, using a trick to flip them over, paralise them and get at their energy-rich livers

How a surge in ancient plagues 5000 years ago shaped humanity Tue, 28 Oct 2025 16:00:31 +0000 Plague, leprosy, smallpox and other diseases didn't jump from animals to humans when we thought. Ancient DNA is revealing where they come from and how they changed history

'Most of it is good': Tim Berners-Lee on the state of the web now Wed, 29 Oct 2025 16:00:26 +0000 The man who invented the web is aware of the many issues it faces, from problematic social media use to the rise of unfettered AI. He also has a plan to remedy the situation

No space, no time, no particles: A radical vision of quantum reality Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:00:41 +0000 If we admit that quantum numbers are the true essence of reality – not particles, space or time – then a surprising and beautiful new vision of reality opens up to us

Nature documentary shot on Super 8 film is ravishing and unpredictable Wed, 29 Oct 2025 18:00:00 +0000 In Ed Sayers's breathtaking documentary, a global community of film-makers capture the wildlife in their local areas. It's a bold departure from the glossy perspective of traditional nature documentaries, says Simon Ings

Quantum computers reveal that the wave function is a real thing Fri, 31 Oct 2025 17:00:37 +0000 The uncertainty inherent to quantum mechanics has long left physicists wondering whether the observations we make on the quantum level reflect reality - a new test suggests they do

The gut microbiome may play a role in shaping our personality Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:00:40 +0000 Rats given a faecal transplant from exuberant toddlers showed more exploratory behaviour, supporting the idea that gut bacteria might affect children’s emotional development

Denisovans may have interbred with mysterious group of ancient humans Fri, 31 Oct 2025 15:13:43 +0000 We now have only the second high-quality genome from an ancient Denisovan human, which reveals there were more populations of this species than we thought

Bulletproof fabric laced with carbon nanotubes is stronger than Kevlar Fri, 31 Oct 2025 15:00:07 +0000 A sheet of fabric that is three times stronger than Kevlar could stop a bullet despite being just 1.8 millimetres thick, thanks to the addition of carbon nanotubes that keep its molecules aligned

Your flight emissions are way higher than carbon calculators suggest Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:32:55 +0000 Existing tools that work out the carbon footprint of flights greatly underestimate their warming impact, say the makers of a new calculator

The best new science fiction books of November 2025 Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:00:38 +0000 From Claire North’s new novel Slow Gods to a 10th anniversary edition of a brilliant Adrian Tchaikovsky book, there’s lots to watch out for in November’s science fiction

Magnetic gel could remove kidney stones more effectively Thu, 30 Oct 2025 18:00:44 +0000 Standard techniques for removing kidney stones often require repeated surgery, but a magnetic gel seems to make the process more efficient

Our verdict on Our Brains, Our Selves: A mix of praise and misgivings Fri, 31 Oct 2025 09:40:29 +0000 The New Scientist Book Club has various issues with Masud Husain's prize-winning popular science book about neurology

Book Club: Read an extract from Every Version of You by Grace Chan Fri, 31 Oct 2025 09:30:59 +0000 In this passage from the opening of Grace Chan’s sci-fi novel, the November read for the New Scientist Book Club, we are introduced to her protagonists as they spend time in a virtual utopia which is becoming increasingly tempting in a dying world

If you could upload your mind to a virtual utopia, would you? Fri, 31 Oct 2025 09:30:31 +0000 Grace Chan, author of Every Version of You, the November read for the New Scientist Book Club, explores the philosophical implications of the choices her characters make

Owning our own data is the only way to stop enshittifcation Wed, 29 Oct 2025 18:00:00 +0000 The internet is not what it once was, with so many apps and websites mere shadows of themselves. Thankfully, the inventor of the web Tim Berners-Lee, has a fix that we should adopt

New Scientist recommends Never Let Me Go Wed, 29 Oct 2025 18:00:00 +0000 The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week

Cats revealed in all their glory in stunning new photographs Wed, 29 Oct 2025 18:00:45 +0000 Photographer Tim Flach's new book Feline explores the mysterious and irresistible world of cats, from the domesticated to the wild, and why we love them

Has life today been enshittified? Cory Doctorow's new book explores Wed, 29 Oct 2025 18:00:00 +0000 Enshittification is a term coined by Cory Doctorow in 2022. In his new book, Doctorow lays out how tech companies have made our lives progressively worse, finds Matthew Sparkes

Boy's body was mummified and turned green by a copper coffin Fri, 31 Oct 2025 06:00:14 +0000 The green mummified remains of a teenager buried in Italy 200 to 400 years ago have given us new insights into the preservative properties of copper

Sorry, but interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS really is a comet, not aliens Thu, 30 Oct 2025 19:00:19 +0000 Interstellar objects like 3I/ATLAS are exciting, but there is no reason to claim that they are evidence of alien spacecraft – sometimes a comet is just comet, says Robin George Andrews

The US is unlikely to test nuclear weapons, despite what Trump says Thu, 30 Oct 2025 16:10:12 +0000 President Donald Trump appears to have ordered a return to nuclear testing after decades of uneasy but effective treaties banning the practice – but will it actually happen?

Dinosaur skeleton settles long debate over 'tiny T. rex' fossils Thu, 30 Oct 2025 16:00:54 +0000 Palaeontologists have argued for decades over whether certain fossils are young Tyrannosaurus rex or another species entirely – now they have strong evidence that the diminutive Nanotyrannus really existed

The end of US support for the CMB-S4 telescope is devastating Wed, 29 Oct 2025 18:00:00 +0000 The US government's decision to stop supporting a telescope facility that would have given us unprecedented insight into the early universe is calamitous, says Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

Minecraft fan may be most committed hobbyist out there Wed, 29 Oct 2025 18:00:00 +0000 Feedback comes across a YouTuber's efforts to build a large language model in Minecraft and is impressed at the scale of it – even if it doesn't quite live up to its promise to blow your mind "in spectacular fashion"

Germanium superconductor could help build reliable quantum computers Thu, 30 Oct 2025 10:00:01 +0000 A new type of germanium superconductor could allow classical and quantum chips to be built into one device, creating better and more reliable quantum computers.

Tough choices lie ahead when it comes to climate change adaptation Wed, 29 Oct 2025 18:00:00 +0000 COP's negotiations this month will focus on money for climate change adaptation. While more money is essential, even a big increase won't be enough on its own and we need to face up to this, warns Susannah Fisher

Why zero is the most important number in all of mathematics Mon, 27 Oct 2025 14:01:42 +0000 It took a long time for zero to be recognised as a number at all, let alone one of the most powerful ones – but now it’s clear that every number is made up of zeroes, says Jacob Aron

Provocative book sets out to solve the hard problem of consciousness Wed, 29 Oct 2025 18:00:00 +0000 Can sea slugs form abstract thoughts? Do we dare to see any "purpose" in evolution? Is the subjective just a complicated form of the objective? Nikolay Kukushkin's One Hand Clapping is a bold voyage around the mysteries of the human mind, finds Thomas Lewton

Stem cell therapy lowers risk of heart failure after a heart attack Wed, 29 Oct 2025 23:30:31 +0000 People who receive stem cell therapy within a week of their first heart attack have nearly a 60 per cent lower risk of developing heart failure years later

A tiny nearby galaxy is home to a shockingly enormous black hole Wed, 29 Oct 2025 20:03:53 +0000 One of the Milky Way’s smallest galactic neighbours seems to have a supermassive black hole at its centre, upending assumptions that it was dominated by dark matter

Prehistoric crayons provide clues to how Neanderthals created art Wed, 29 Oct 2025 18:00:29 +0000 Ochre artefacts found in Crimea show signs of having been used for drawing, adding to evidence that Neanderthals used pigments in symbolic ways

Analogue computers could train AI 1000 times faster and cut energy use Wed, 29 Oct 2025 12:00:44 +0000 Computers built with analogue circuits promise huge speed and efficiency gains over ordinary computers, but normally at the cost of accuracy. Now, an analogue computer designed to carry out calculations that are key to AI training could fix that

Can't focus after a bad night's sleep? Your dirty brain is to blame Wed, 29 Oct 2025 10:15:34 +0000 During sleep, your brain cleans itself by flushing through cerebrospinal fluid to prevent damage to brain cells. If you're lacking in sleep, this happens when you are awake – and seems to cause momentary lapses in attention

Quantum-inspired algorithm could help reveal hidden cosmic objects Tue, 28 Oct 2025 20:46:45 +0000 Combining a quantum-inspired algorithm and quantum information processing technologies could enable researchers to measure masses of cosmic objects that bend light almost imperceptibly

US public health system is flying blind after major cuts Tue, 28 Oct 2025 19:12:49 +0000 The Trump administration has laid off government workers integral to major public health surveys, meaning the country will lack crucial information on births, deaths and illnesses nationwide

Why Hurricane Melissa is one of the strongest Atlantic storms ever Tue, 28 Oct 2025 15:06:24 +0000 The monster hurricane pummelling Jamaica is powered by abnormal sea surface temperatures in the Caribbean, which were made at least 500 times more likely by global warming

Men may have to exercise more than women to get same heart benefits Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:00:59 +0000 Among over-50s, women seem to require less exercise than men to get the same reduction in heart disease risk, suggesting health guidelines need to be updated

Billionaires must not be allowed to geoengineer the planet Wed, 22 Oct 2025 19:00:00 +0100 There is nothing stopping the wealthiest people from attempting to alter the world's atmosphere – this must not be allowed to happen

Solar energy is going to power the world much sooner than you think Thu, 23 Oct 2025 13:00:27 +0100 Solar electricity is growing rapidly, but can it really dominate the global energy system? Here is what it will take for us to power the planet on sunshine

Unpicking the genetics of fibromyalgia sheds new light on its causes Fri, 24 Oct 2025 12:00:31 +0100 Fibromyalgia, which causes chronic pain all over the body, is poorly understood, but two studies – made up of millions of participants – are helping us get to the roots of the condition

Why group exercise is better than working out alone Wed, 22 Oct 2025 19:00:00 +0100 When it comes to boosting mental health and even improving performance, team sports and group exercise come out on top, finds Grace Wade

Everything is perimenopause now – but what if it’s not? Mon, 20 Oct 2025 17:00:54 +0100 Many of the signs of perimenopause can also be symptoms of other conditions, and some of these get increasingly dangerous if they’re misdiagnosed

Must-watch documentary shows how Bush Senior failed the climate Wed, 22 Oct 2025 19:00:00 +0100 The White House Effect is a distressing look back at how President George H. W. Bush came to abandon his climate ambitions. It is essential viewing and a glimpse at a world that could have been, says Bethan Ackerley

What 350 different theories of consciousness reveal about reality Wed, 22 Oct 2025 17:00:39 +0100 There are hundreds of coherent theories attempting to explain the origins of experience. Robert Lawrence Kuhn explores what they reveal about free will, artificial intelligence and life after death

How to nurture infant microbiomes for a lifetime of good mental health Wed, 22 Oct 2025 12:49:08 +0100 The microbes that take hold in our bodies during early life have long-term effects on our brain health. Helen Thomson investigates how to get kids’ microbiomes off to the best start.

How worried should we be about noxious chemicals from dead satellites? Tue, 21 Oct 2025 17:00:41 +0100 We have more satellites than ever before, but when they burn up they create a new kind of air pollution. Evidence is now revealing what effects this could have and how to tackle it